Former Bloomingdale pastor sentenced to almost 10 years in prison for stealing from his church

Wednesday

Jan 25, 2012 at 12:43 AM

Jan Skutch

A former Bloomingdale pastor on Tuesday was sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $381,000 in restitution for stealing from the New Harvest International Ministries church.

Kenneth Terrell, 47, also must serve a three-year supervised release after he completes his 115-month sentence, U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. ordered.

Terrell was immediately remanded to custody, where he has been since his arrest in January 2011.

Terrell pleaded guilty in May to a single count in the indictment charging him with wire fraud of $201,450 on Oct. 10, 2007, as part of a negotiated plea in a larger scheme over a four-year period.

In federal court, all misconduct can be considered in sentencing, not just the counts that are acknowledged.

"I do accept responsibility for doing wrong," Terrell told Moore during a rambling explanation of where money had gone. "As far as $372,000 coming to me, that's where I've struggled with this."

Terrell told Moore his efforts at street and church ministries while trying to build a new church on a Quacco Road property had overwhelmed him, but he defended his efforts to ensure "inner-city kids have everything everybody else had."

"No, we never cleared a tree, put up a building there (Quacco Road)," Terrell conceded. "I'm not disputing whether I've done wrong. The amount of money is where I had my problems."

"He took the stand, turned to you, and lied under oath," Lee told Moore in asking for an enhanced sentenced. "His goal was to commit perjury."

Moore agreed.

"Mr. Terrell was not testifying truthfully. He has in fact testified falsely."

Lee also argued Terrell had failed to accept responsibility for his misconduct and urged Moore not to allow him a reduction in sentence for acceptance.

In addition, Lee cited Terrell's criminal history of 13 convictions, including one for child molestation, and 13 additional arrests, as well as what she said was a "pretty outrageous fraud" in the current case.

"It demonstrates to me that Mr. Terrell has not changed and will not change," Lee told Moore.

Prosecutors charged that Terrell repeatedly used for personal expense funds provided by the Georgia Convention of the national International Pentecostal Holiness Church Inc. and designated for the building fund for the local church.

The money included Terrell's house rental, child support and musical instruments, money to which Terrell testified he was entitled.

Among the funds misused were $10,000 and $5,000 checks for bonuses Terrell paid to himself.

Evidence showed Terrell used three banks, fake bank documents and emails to try to hide his misconduct from church officials.

Moore said Terrell's economic circumstance won't allow for full payment of the money he stole, but ordered that he make nominal payments while in custody and after his release.